Words

I’m doing a show in tribute to Gordon Lightfoot Wednesday, and that has me thinking about songwriting, writing in general, and more specifically, how we use words. I’m fascinated by those who can use words well to express ideas and feelings. I’m fortunate that I had teachers who stressed how important it is to be able to write and speak well. I’ve lost some of my ability to do this, but I still love to read and explore ideas in conversation and in writing. Good writing comes from deep thought and understanding and the ability to turn things over in our minds until we can use vocabulary to express the nuances and facets of an idea or concept. Of course, this extends to songwriting where you also combine melody, chord progression, rhyme, meter, rhythm, and syncopation with the words to convey an idea or feeling. It’s amazing stuff, and it’s amazing to be able to harness it and create a song. That’s why we revere great writers and also great songwriters. I encourage you to fill your life with great writing and to practice your own writing when you can in your correspondence and everyday communication. It only takes another second to throw in a creative word, idea or phrase, and it adds so much to life.

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What have I been up to?

I had 7 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed them all, especially the new one in Monument, Colorado, where I’ll be playing monthly. They were such nice and appreciative folks. All my folks are so genuine and congenial!

My Wednesday online show about pets was great fun with lots of songs about our best friends. I feel like dogs were over-represented, but that just reflects our love affair with them in our culture. Here’s to our kitties, birds, fish, and what-have-you too!

My Sunday online show doing favorites and requests was also wonderful as always. We have such a good group of friends and supporters in our online community, and their care for each other really shines through.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 10 senior facilities to play for this week including a wedding at one of them that should be really joyous. 

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be a tribute to Gordon Lightfoot who passed a week ago. I’ve always enjoyed him and his writing, and this will be a great opportunity to show our appreciation for him. Come on out if you can!

Saturday 7-9 mountain time I’m doing an online show for my Facebook Philmont Concert group to reminisce as the current staff gears up for a great summer and us old staffers prepare for the 50th reunion/homecoming in July. If you’re a member of that group then please join in!

Sunday my online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. I’m always astounded and thankful for the great turnout I get for these Sunday evening shows. You’re always welcome to tune in and join in!

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That’s it for now. I so enjoy writing to you and getting a chance to express myself and connect through writing. I hope you enjoy it too! Also a very Happy Mother’s Day on Sunday!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Gordon Lightfoot songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, May 10, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Philmont songs

Where: facebook.com/groups/1176893032692370/ and tommunch.com/online-concerts

When:  Saturday, May 13, 7-9 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, May 14, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Pets

I’m thinking today of the little beings who live with us and are part of our families - pets. I imagine you might have a pet now or have had one or many in your life. In my life I’ve had cats, dogs, a ferret, Guinea pigs, and fish. They add so much to our lives in such a selfless way. We share a bond with them that is somehow deeper and more interesting than human friendships because they depend on us and can’t talk to us. As a child they often are the first to teach us about caring, respect, and loyalty. Of course they can also contribute to allergies and asthma, but they can also help build our immunity. Most pets live much shorter lives than we do, and so they also teach us about grief and aging, but this also lets us love more of them in our relatively longer lives (as a friend once told me). So Wednesday I’ll sing songs about the animals who share our lives as our pets. Here’s to them!

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What have I been up to?

I had 10 senior facilities last week, and they were all so wonderful. I can’t say enough how much I love offering up some encouragement and enjoyment to these folks.

My Wednesday online show was doing ‘60s rock songs, and it was a rollicking good time. I stuck to the really rocking songs for the most part, and some of the audience said they were exhausted by the last song. But it was sure fun!

My Sunday online show was doing favorites and requests from Deann and Matt’s house, and after a nice meal and chatting we had a fine show with several friends in the house as well as a good online crew. There were a few new songs and some old chestnuts. It was very nice.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 7 senior facilities this week including a new one this afternoon in Monument, CO, and I’m looking forward to all of them. 

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be the songs about pets that I wrote about above. This will be a lot of fun, and I am getting some great requests. Come on out!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time is favorites and requests as always, and Sunday nights have just been so cool lately with lots of folks and lots of interaction. You’re always welcome to join in.

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That’s it for this week. Summer is rapidly approaching, and barring any unexpected bumps in the road, I’m expecting a grand time. I hope you are too!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Pet songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, May 3, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, May 7, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Birthdays

My 62nd birthday is this week, and I’m doing my show Sunday from my friend Deann and Matt’s house to celebrate our birthdays (Deann’s is in early May). That has me thinking about birthdays and how we celebrate and about time passing. I don’t usually make a big deal about birthdays. I’ve worked almost all of mine as an adult. I do remember one birthday where the bar where I was playing that night decorated the bar with birthday decorations and a big banner that said “Happy Birthday, Tom!” on it. That would seem to be a nice thing to do, but it kind of backfired in that everybody, drunk or sober, who entered the bar for the whole night made a big todo about it. That got a little old by the end of the night as the crowd got more inebriated. They all wanted to buy me drinks and get me drunk too, and I had learned early on that I don’t play well at all if I drink. But most of my birthdays Jen and I have tried to take a day trip or go to a nice restaurant. We don’t exchange gifts since we saw what expectations and disappointments did to other couples we know. But besides that, what does a birthday really represent? It’s always just been a marker for me that makes me take stock a little bit in my health and accomplishments, and for the most part I don’t feel my age. I don’t think anyone does. My health is relatively good since we work hard at staying in shape and eating right. A little luck and decent genetics don’t hurt either. I guess we really should make more of birthdays - at least in that it’s an excuse to something fun and maybe frivolous. What is life without some goofy enjoyment sometimes? I play for a lot of monthly birthday parties at my senior facilities, and I always tell my residents who don’t really want to be reminded that they’re a year older that it’s just a reason to have a party. So here’s to being a year older, being hopefully a little wiser, and being able to enjoy our lives and a good time.

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What have I been up to?

I had 11 senior facilities this past week, and they were all really enjoyable. Several are still requiring masks although one of them was also a celebration of one of their residents coming out of isolation, and they also announced at the party that the county mask mandate had been lifted. So removing masks was a real cause for celebration. Hopefully they won’t have to go back to masks too soon so they can enjoy a little freedom for a while.

My Wednesday online show was doing a second night of Lying, Cheating, and Leaving songs, and we really had a good time once again. It’s amazing how you can take a dark subject and have fun with it.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and I also debuted a new howling song that I wrote on Saturday. I know you might be wondering why we’re still howling at 8:00 since the pandemic is more-or-less over, but we still do it as a matter of course to try to spread good energy and to be thankful for all we’ve been through. It’s funny how traditions can be so strong and so reassuring.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 10 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to all of them. We’re doing Spring songs and starting to do Mother’s Day songs, so there’s lot of joyful stuff to sing and share.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be doing ‘60s rock and roll tunes at the request of one of our group. I really like doing these fun tunes, and I’m sure it’ll be a banner night for good songs and good memories. Come on out!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests done remotely at Deann and Matt’s as I wrote above to celebrate our birthdays. I’m sure we’ll have lots of camaraderie and sweet moments of friendship and song. You’re always welcome!

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That’s it for this week. I hope you can enjoy your birthday whenever it comes this year. It’s so easy to not let ourselves enjoy the simple things of our lives.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of ‘60s Rock songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, April 26, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, April 30, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Real and Artificial

I’m thinking about what is real and what is artificial in our lives with with all the talk of Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT lately. I have to admit that I have had a penchant for what is real throughout my life - preferring glass and wood and metal over plastic and man-made materials even though I marvel at what science and ingenuity have created. I feel the same about sound - I’d rather hear acoustic or even electric instruments over synthesized ones. As I think about whether I will use ChatGPT to come up with song ideas or help me write blogs or promotional materials, I think I’m wanting to create these things out of my own brain although I see the value in using them to spur the creative process. I’ve even thought of using AI image tools to create backgrounds for my videos, but I find I’m better off just using a picture I’ve taken. I’m aware that my phone camera now uses algorithms and AI of-sorts to create a photograph, but if it represents what I saw with my own eyes then I’m still accepting of the photo it generates. I realize it’s possible that in a short time these AI tools will dominate our daily lives, but I’m still enjoying the reliance on my own ideas and brain power for the moment. I know that some of that attitude is due to my age and my slowness to understand some new things in our world. Some of you who know me well may be surprised to hear me say this since I have kind of a techy reputation. I think that most of my attitude comes from a desire to maintain a solid link to everyday life and the realities of a physical existence in my environment. That’s why I walk and sing and marvel at the sky - I want to be completely aware of the tactile experience of being in this world. 

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week. Many have had to go back to wearing masks from small COVID outbreaks and other diseases. It’s sure tough on these folks, and there are many singers who won’t perform in a mask, so they don’t have as many folks coming out to entertain them as before the pandemic. It wasn’t easy to sing in a mask at first, but I’ve adjusted now and am fine with or without.

My Wednesday online show doing Lying, Cheating, and Leaving songs was so much fun that we’re going to do it again this week. Yes, there were a few dark and slow songs that brought down the energy, but there were so many that were upbeat and even funny that we didn’t stay down for long. I think it’s kind of the old cathartic model that everyone relates to a song of this type.

My Sunday online show doing Favorites and Requests was also lots of fun with good folks and good songs. This community that my online shows has created has been a blessing to all involved - especially me.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 11 senior facilities this week, and I know they will all be wonderful. It’s so good to see all these good people and share a little music and joy with them.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Lying, Cheating, and Leaving songs again as I said above. There are just too many good songs of this type to not do another show. Come on out and enjoy the camaraderie and tunes.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I know it will be a sweet and poignant night. I’d love to have you in the audience if you’re up for it.

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That’s it for this week. I’m still thinking about my topic up top and wondering what life will be like in the coming years. It’s an interesting time to be alive.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Lying, Cheating and Leaving songs 2

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, April 19, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, April 23, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Why Do People Lie?

Interesting question to ponder this week - why people lie. There are lots of reasons and theories. Some do it to gain something. Some say they do it to protect others. Some are just downright nasty. I had a new friend ask me once why I don’t lie. I told him that it just takes too much work - remembering what lies you told in different situations and then covering those up with other lies. That’s kind of comical, but there is some truth in it. It’s a vicious circle and a house of cards that must fall at some point. Also a lie really hurts the teller more than anyone else. The amount of doubt and angst it creates tarnishes their spirit in ways that damage them - sometimes permanently. The Dutch have a reputation for being blunt and not lying to protect another’s feelings. I don’t necessarily like being blunt, but I think there is a point to just being honest with the other person with love in your heart. I think if you see the other person as yourself it makes it easier in almost every situation. That is really the idea behind not lying to each other. When you understand the need for other people in your life, and when you see that there really is a oneness in that other person’s eyes, then not lying to them makes perfect sense. It seems so simple.

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities last week, and one even required N95 masks from a recent COVID outbreak that had them in isolation last month. I thoroughly enjoyed them all, and we sang Easter and Spring songs most of the week.

My Wednesday online show was doing the music of The Monkees, and it was as much fun as I imagined it could be. The surprising thing is that so many of their songs were so well-written and catchy. I’ve been humming them all week.

My Sunday online show was doing favorites and requests, and there were some different ones that were really cool. We have such a great group of folks who come out to these shows.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to them all! I say it every week, but it is truly a blessing to get to sing for these folks and give them some real friendship and encouragement.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be the Lying, Cheating, and Leaving songs I referred to above. Of course there are lots of maudlin country songs about this which we’ll do, but there are also some fun songs and songs of other genres that will make it a neat exploration. Come on out and join the evening!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. I know I sound like a broken record with my enthusiasm and thankfulness for these evenings among friends, but they are truly magical. You’re always welcome.

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That’s it for this week. Think about my brief message about lying. Weigh it in your mind and see how you deal with it in your life. Peace to you, my friend.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Lying, Cheating and Leaving songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, April 12, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, April 16, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Silliness

I’m doing a show featuring the Monkees music on Wednesday, and we’ve been watching documentaries and interviews as well as some of the episodes of the Monkees TV show to prepare. I’m struck with how silly the TV show was, and it makes me think about the value of just plain silliness in our lives. Of course, the ‘60s was a discordant decade with so much going on in the country, and we needed some silliness to counteract the darkness in society. A similar thing happened after World War II when there were so many silly, nonsense songs. I remember when the movie “Life Is Beautiful” came out, and I was charmed by how the father sheltered his daughter from the darkness of the war with his frivolity. We tend to think that bringing silliness into our day is irresponsible or naive, but there is real merit to forgetting our troubles even if just for a moment to remember that there is joy and wonder in our time on earth. Even Mike Nesmith of the Monkees, who often eschewed his time with the Monkees and shied away from reunions, came around to the sheer fun of being with other Monkees and playing their music at the end of his life. So be silly sometimes, and come out and celebrate the Monkees with me on Wednesday.

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities last week, and they all went very well. A couple of them were still up for some Irish tunes, so I played my Irish Lowden guitar through the last day of March. I so enjoy playing for these folks. My Thursday outdoor memorial service went very well too singing “Bristlecone Pine” as people put ashes of the deceased in with a new tree just being planted. It fit the song and the hope of life continuing.

My Wednesday online show was doing the most-played songs from my online shows, and it was a real ‘Greatest Hits’ of favorites. It has been so much fun creating a community of friends and music lovers who have requested and enjoyed these songs over the last 12 years that I’ve been doing online shows - especially the last three years during COVID.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and it was kind of another night of best songs with a few new ones thrown in for good measure. I’m blessed to be able to do these shows. I’ve always wanted to play for people who really want to hear me play and sing, and that’s exactly what theses shows have become.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 8 senior facilities this week, and I am looking forward to every one. With Easter being this week I’m sure I’ll be singing a few hymns and songs about bunnies and Spring. This is such a sweet time of year with lots of memories for all the folks of family times and Spring rituals.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be the music of the Monkees as I mentioned above. My sisters had several of their albums, and so I grew up listening to their songs and watching their TV show. Amazingly the show was only on the air for 2 seasons, but it sure gave me a lot of memories of their music and zany antics. It’ll be fun to sing and play these songs, and many of my regulars are really excited to hear these tunes and reminisce. You’re always welcome to tune in!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. I cherish these evenings among friends and music lovers. Come on out and join in the fun with a couple requests!

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That’s it for this week. I hope you have a lovely Easter, and I hope your life is full and happy.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Monkees songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, April 5, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, April 9, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Favorite Songs

What makes a song a favorite? As I look through the list of songs I’m doing on Wednesday and that are on my couple of favorite lists on my song laptop I am transported to the places where I learned those songs and the people I associate with the song and place. There are so many reasons to like a particular song. I tend to like songs that have some sort of melodic or lyrical depth to them - songs that leave me humming the tune or pondering over a twist of phrase or bit of truth I glean from them. I know that others like a song for a memory or a beat that makes them want to dance. We like some songs just because we heard them so often on the radio or at friends’ houses. I laugh when I really listen to those songs nowadays and realize there isn’t much to them. It doesn’t matter - they are part of me and always will be. And of course the songs we hear in our formative years tend to be our favorites. I don’t think that fact will ever change. So over the last three plus years I’ve been playing songs on Facebook and also on my website twice a week and keeping track of what I’ve played. Wednesday I’ll play the songs that have been heard and requested the most frequently on those shows, and it should be a lot of fun with some touching moments. There is something in the human condition that gives us real comfort and satisfaction to hearing our favorite songs.

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What have I been up to?

I had 11 senior facilities last week, and they were all so enjoyable. Highlights included a couple shows that were birthday parties. Luckily COVID was only touching a couple of these places, and I’m always hoping for the best for these folks and sending them healing energy.

My Wednesday online show was doing Spring songs, and there were some great ones to celebrate the season. It’s such a hopeful time of year, and I think we did it up right!

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and there were some interesting new songs and old favorites. This is such a supportive and inclusive group, and it’s such a pleasure to perform for them.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 8 senior facilities that I’m looking forward to playing for as we transition away from Irish tunes and more into Spring songs and Easter approaching. I’m also playing for a memorial service Thursday morning where I’ll be playing “Bristlecone Pine,” which is such a comforting song.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be the favorite songs I mentioned above, and I’m really looking forward to a party atmosphere as we touch on so many group memories and good vibes. Come on out and join in!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests, and I look forward to a reunion of sorts every week with these great folks. Throw me a request and come on out to hear it!

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That’s it for this week. I hope you are well and enjoying the seasons change. Do something to make yourself happy, and cherish those in your life!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Top Munch Bunch songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, March 29, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, April 2, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Spring

 Today is the first day of Spring, and I have to say that it doesn’t feel like it on my sunrise walks on the prairie with Beau yet. I recently heard a podcast with a biologist saying that there is always activity in the ground even in the deepest part of winter, but I’m not seeing any evidence on the surface yet. It seems like it has been colder in the mornings consistently than I remember for this part of the year, but I haven’t looked up historical temperatures. The feeling I get on our walks is that of a tired earth that has yet to wake up for the year. That’s okay. It seems to work like a rubber band that stretches to its limit until it pulls like crazy to the other extreme. The sunrise times definitely work like that. In the winter they change less than a minute a day until they pick up and start moving two minutes a day. I’ve written before that it makes this time of year into a kind of pensive state as we gear up in our lives and our minds for the “busy-ness” of summer. I used to always work like a busy bee with plans for the summer, but I do less of that nowadays as I age and as the pandemic has changed the meaning of time and anticipation. It’s a good thing all around. It reminds me of the end of a Walt Whitman poem called “O Me! O Life!” that I posted to Facebook a couple days ago. “That you are here—that life exists and identity,

That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” 

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What have I been up to?

I had 9 senior facilities last week, but one had to cancel with a COVID outbreak. Others have gone back to wearing masks for safety. It was still a fun week with St. Patrick’s Day and all the great Irish music and festivities, but I did feel for those who were out with COVID.

My Wednesday online show was Irish music, and it was great fun. I even had a shot of Irish whiskey to sip on as I played that didn’t help my stomach much, but it contributed to the heritage of the evening. I think that everyone had a good time!

My Sunday show was favorites and requests, and there were several new songs and most of our usual host of regulars that made the evening more than worthwhile. We have such a supportive and caring group of folks!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 11 senior facilities this week, and I’m looking forward to all of them. Being that it’s after St. Patrick’s Day I’m not sure they will still want to hear Irish music, but I’ll be playing my Irish guitar and wearing my Irish cap, so maybe they’ll get in the mood. It’s hard to work so much and dive so deeply into a season of music and then give it up overnight.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Spring songs, and I’m learning a few new ones that I’ve found recently. It’s such a time of rebirth and joy, and it’s fun to spread that anytime! Come on out if you’re up for an uplifting night.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. Sundays are consistently my most-attended shows, and the spontaneous nature of them with requests and the possibility of anything happening make for a fun evening. My encouraging group of friends make it very special. I’d love to have you in the audience if you have the time free.

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That’s it for this week. I’ve heard that many people are using ChatGPT to write things like newsletters and blog posts, but I don’t think I’ll ever do that. I treasure the mental stimulation and creativity that writing brings too much to inflict that on you. Enjoy the first days of Spring!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Spring songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, March 22, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, March 26, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Heritage

I wrote last week a little bit about my family’s ancestors and how a lot of the traditions of culture and music are lost to us. We don’t know the songs of our German or British forbears other than one hymn my grandpa liked called “Murmur”, and all we really know of their culture are a few family recipes that were passed down. My mother spent a lot of time researching our family genealogy, and I am so grateful for the lines she was able to trace to different places in the old country. Just a month before she died in 2015 she finally got confirmation that our ancestor William Bell came across the Atlantic on a boat from Ireland, and so I found out that we have Irish lineage as well as the other lines she found. So I have embraced a lot of Irish tunes imagining what they could have meant to William Bell and his family. When I sing “Across the Western Ocean” I think of them leaving family and friends behind to board a ship bound for America. When I sing “Galway Bay” I wonder if they sat and looked at that same place and smelled the salty sea air and felt the heather-scented breezes blow on their brow. I often feel the Ire rise in my blood that they must have felt when they were oppressed by the English during the revolution. Of course I have English blood in me too, so it’s a puzzlement! So here’s to our heritage wherever we come from, and this week I’ll celebrate my heritage in song.

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities last week, but one had to be cancelled due to staff being out. I’m so possessed by Irish tunes now that my shows are really fun and high energy with a few sweet ballads and sing-alongs thrown in.

My Wednesday online show was Motown, Atlantic, and Stax R&B tunes, and it was so much fun. I was dancing to almost all of them as I played, and we’ll have to do another one of these soon.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and I couldn’t help doing a few Irish songs as well. As I said, I’m pretty possessed and obsessed with these tunes this time of year.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities this week, and you know I’ll really be playing Irish songs all week including a couple St. Patrick’s Day parties. It will be a blast!

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Irish tunes for St. Patrick’s Day as well, and I expect it’ll be a night to remember. Erin go bragh!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests, and I’ll get back to some of the great requests and good interaction that we always have on these shows. It’s a blessing to get to serve friends with great music and friendship.

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That’s it for this week. I hope you cherish your heritage and your family lineage. Even if it’s far distant from your everyday life there is a connection that can enrich your life.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Irish songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, March 15, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, March 19, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Appropriation or Appreciation

My Wednesday show will be the music of Motown, Atlantic, Stax, and other R&B and Soul tunes, and that has me thinking about the music I play and who I really am. I love to play all kinds of music, and I don’t really have one type of music that I grew up with. My family is far enough removed from the music of our predecessors that we weren’t really steeped in any one genre. I suspect that many of you grew up in a similar situation. My dad grew up with big band and jazz music, and so I heard a lot of that growing up. Kids in the ‘50s and ‘60s heard a lot of folk music in school and on radio and TV. My brother and sisters liked all kinds of much that I heard them play in the house from folk to Motown to rock. For myself I had an affinity for folk rock, R&B and historical music, and in my 20s I got into the blues. So what is appropriate and inappropriate for me to love and play? Of late, there have been many discussions about people going outside their lane and appropriating music or a look or approach that is inappropriate for them. I really don’t have a music that is appropriate for me other than what I grew up with - which is pretty much everything. So I’m left conflicted many times on what I should feel good about playing. I struggled with what to call my show for this Wednesday, and I finally just settled on the labels that created this great music that I love to play. And so I approach the music this week with affection and appreciation for the rhythms and melodies and musicianship that I love.

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities last week, and they were so fun and rewarding. I always say that I love to play for these folks, and it’s true. Now that we are past Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras I was beginning to play Irish tunes for St. Patrick’s Day, and it was a blast.

My Wednesday online show of Alaska tunes was great fun with lots of new tunes and quite a celebration of the wild frontier that is still Alaska. I think everyone had a great time.

My Sunday show of favorites and requests was well-received, and it was so good to see so many friends and supporters. We always have such a celebration of community on these evenings.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 8 senior facilities this week, and I know they’ll all be a sweet time. I love these folks so much, and I get to do Irish tunes for most of them this week although I’m always open to whatever they want to hear.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Motown, Atlantic, Stax, and other R&B and Soul songs as I mentioned above. This will be a lively night full of great songs and spirit. Come on out!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. Sunday evenings hold some of my favorite moments of the week, and I’d love to have you in the audience!

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That’s it for this week. I’m not doing a special Irish concert in any outside venues this year, so I’ll be pouring all that energy into my online shows. It’s going to be a fun month! Next week on Wednesday will be my online Irish show!

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Motown, Atlantic, Stax, and more songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, March 8, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, March 12, 7-8:45 pm mountain time